Jerusalem, Jan 23 (Agencies): An independent Palestine is round the corner with capital in East Jerusalem, a top Palestinian leader said on Sunday, buoyed by a series of recognitions by countries, including Russia and Brazil that has alarmed Israel.

"The (Israeli) Prime Minister told us we should not wait for the next government. However we are not waiting for it, we are waiting for you," chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat said, referring to hawkish Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

"A Palestinian state is coming, with 1967 borders and with a capital in east Jerusalem, and Israel cannot stop it anymore," Erekat said during an interview with Army Radio.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev endorsed last week a Palestinian state, saying Moscow had recognised independence in 1988 and was not changing the position adopted by the former Soviet Union.

When asked about PA President Mahmoud Abbas's comments on Friday that the failure of the peace process could lead to an intifada, Erekat responded, "He [Abbas] is not threatening an intifada. We want negotiations".

"We want a Palestinian state through an agreement. But if there is no agreement or solution when September comes, the alternative may be a type of intifada," he said.

"But for now we are searching for a partner in Israel and we want a halt in settlement construction," Erekat emphasised.

Israel is alarmed by a string of recognitions by Latin American states, including Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, during the past two months that some analysts say could be a precursor to a move by the Palestinians to seek full United Nations membership if efforts to revive the moribund peace negotiations fall through.

The close aide to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas also rebuffed a reported draft map prepared by Israel's ultra-nationalist Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman which designates a Palestinian state in provisional borders, describing it a "joke".

"I don't know what is happening with Israel. I don't understand your behaviour. We don't have an Israeli partner for peace," the Palestinian chief negotiator told the Radio.

Deadlock in peace talks continue since direct peace talks between Israel and PA, initiated under US mediation on Sept 2 last year, failed to gain momentum due to the Jewish state's refusal to stop building activities in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and Palestinian demands to put a complete moratorium on such activities.

Netanyahu had imposed a ten month temporary freeze on constructions in the West Bank that expired on September 26 last year but has refused to extend the same despite US pressures, succumbing to the demands of an overwhelmingly right-wing backed coalition